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| Huskies QB Drew Burko (#2) threw four picks in Friday's loss to the Bisons. |
Drew Burko will want to destroy the video of that contest.
The fourth year starting quarterback for the University of
Saskatchewan Huskies football team did not have his best day throwing four
costly interceptions Friday night in a 34-28 loss to the University of Manitoba
Bisons at Griffiths Stadium before 6,457 spectators. Burko threw two of his interceptions inside of the
final two minutes of the CIS regular season opening contest for both squads.
Fifth-year veteran Zack Sandelescu made the first late pick for the Bisons with
1:21 to play, while fourth-year vet Cam Teschuk came up with the second pick
that iced the game for the visitors with 31 seconds to play.
On at least three of his interceptions, Burko was locked in
on his intended receiver for a lengthy time, which allowed the Bisons defensive
backs to zero in on the throw.
While the picks late in the fourth quarter punctuated the
loss, the veteran signal caller’s two second quarter interceptions were just as
costly. Just before the halfway point of the second stanza with the Huskies up
20-14, Burko threw an interception at the goal-line to Bisons defensive back
Tyler Fong.
After the U of M went ahead 24-22 late in the second
quarter, Burko drove the Huskies downfield only to get picked at the Bisons
three by Eric Plett with 16 seconds remaining before halftime.
Burko completed 24-of-46 passes for 318 yards, which
included hitting Gilmer, Texas, product Tevin Godfrey for a 30-yard score that
gave the hosts a 20-7 lead early in the second frame.
Bisons quarterback Theo Deezar connected on 17-of-28
attempts for 268 yards, two touchdown passes and two interceptions. After the Huskies
went ahead 20-7, Deezar immediately responded by engineering a quick five-play,
80-yard drive that was capped with an acrobatic 27-yard touchdown catch by
receiver Alex Vitt to cut the Huskies edge to 20-14.
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| Rookie Jamel Lyles shreds the Huskies defence on a run. |
The Huskies had other opportunities that slipped through
their fingers. Leading 8-0 in the first quarter, they blocked a punt to start a
drive 12 yards away from the Bisons end zone. The hosts were held to a field
goal in going up 11-0.
Up 11-7 after a three-yard TD run by Bisons running back
Cameron Fox, the Huskies were stopped on a third-and-goal gamble from a yard
out, when back-up quarterback Kyle Siemens couldn’t find his way to paydirt
against a tough Bisons front. Siemens had the game’s first major on a one-yard
sneak.
The Dogs had to lament their missed chances, but the Bisons
have to be given full credit for taking the game away from the host side.
The visitors also held a huge edge along the ground piling
up 246 yards rushing to the Huskies 116. Bisons rookie tailback Jamel Lyles led
all ground gainers with 155 yards on 11 carries, which included a lightning fast
58-yard dash in the second quarter that cut a 22-14 Huskies edge to 22-21.
Tyler Chow topped the Huskies in rushing with 109 yards on 17 carries.
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| Preston McIntyre recovers a Bisons fourth quarter fumble for the Huskies. |
After Ihanza’s touchdown catch, Jones nailed a 10-yard field
goal to put the Bisons up 34-28.
Saskatchewan appeared to be poised for some last minute heroics,
when sophomore defensive lineman Preston McIntyre recovered a Bisons fumble at
the Huskies 26 with 1:49 to play. Burko’s final two interceptions ended any
hopes of a two-minute drill win.
The Huskies return to action this coming Friday, when they
travel to Edmonton to face the University of Alberta Golden Bears.
Farewell to Dom
It was a result that can only be labeled as unfair.
On Thursday, Dominic Rooney, who was less than a month and a
half away from his third birthday, passed away after almost a two-year battle
with acute myeloid leukemia. Dominic was the son of Sean and Trish Rooney of
Medicine Hat, and Sean was my sports editor at the Medicine Hat News.
During Dominic’s battle with cancer, Sean documented his
family’s journey with a spectacular and heart-wrenching blog. After doctors
said Dominic’s condition was terminal, he defied the odds by continuing to live
for 36 weeks.
Just hours after Dominic’s passing, Sean crafted one his
best pieces ever to report his son’s final moments. That specific post can be
found here.
As the Rooney family went through their journey, they were
warmly supported by the citizens of Medicine Hat through a variety of
fundraisers. In his valiant fight, Dominic inspired many and brought out the
best in the Gas City.
If you want to pass
along any comments about this blog post, feel free to email them to
stankssports@gmail.com.
